A female carer died in a crash while trying to drive herself to hospital after being attacked at work in a retirement village, as a 61-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder.
The 47-year-old woman from North Cornelly in Bridgend, who has not yet been named, died in hospital after crashing her car into a wall.
She had been badly injured in an attack while at work in a Ger-y-Nant retirement housing complex in Bridgend, South Wales.
Neighbours said the woman was told there would be a long wait for an ambulance so she struggled into the car by herself, desperately seeking medical attention.
She drove alone for 300 yards with severe injuries, before colliding with a wall on Monday at around midday.
Paramedics were called to the scene but the woman was later pronounced dead.
Police were called to the 'deeply distressing' lunchtime crash on Monday and found the woman had injuries 'unrelated to the collision'.
Later that day, police swooped on the retirement housing complex and arrested a 61-year-old man.
The scene outside the Ger-y-Nant retirement home where a female carer was badly injured at work
Locals reported seeing a large police presence, including riot vans and armed officers, adding that residents were asked to 'sign in and out' of their homes
South Wales Police said: 'Officers were called to Coity Road, Bridgend at around 12:43pm [on Monday] following a report of a road traffic collision, wherein a car had collided with a wall.
'Upon attendance, officers identified that the driver had sustained injuries unrelated to the collision.
'Despite medical attention, the driver, a 47-year-old woman from North Cornelly, has died at hospital. Her family has been informed, though formal identification has yet to take place.
'Following a significant policing operation in the area of nearby Ger-y-Nant, a 61-year-old man from Bridgend has been arrested on suspicion of murder. He is currently in police custody.'
The retirement village apartment block features 13 social housing flats for people over the age of 60 and is run by Valleys to Coast housing association.
A spokesman for Valleys to Coast said: 'We are deeply saddened by the tragic incident in Bridgend on October 19 and can confirm that a member of our team was involved.
'Our thoughts are with our colleague's family, friends and everyone affected by this. We are working closely with South Wales Police and cooperating fully with their ongoing investigation.'
Locals said the woman was alone when she was found in the car - only a few hundred yards away from the house being searched by police.
Neighbour Sue Thomas, who lives opposite the residential home, paid tribute to the woman who 'went to work and did not come home'.
She said: 'The residents are back but people going in have to sign in and out.
'You don't expect to go to work and not come home. I feel for her family.'
Gavin Owen, who lives near the scene, watched as SWAT teams of armed cops swooped outside his house.
He said: 'There was police, everything was cordoned off. So I got scared and worried, and didn't know what was going on.
'When I got home, at the bottom of my street, by the garage, it was cordoned off.
'I had to tell them where I lived and they had to escort me to my front door. They said we're going to have to sign in and out if we want to come in or leave.'
He added: 'We had people coming to interview us, asking us for ring doorcam footage. And gradually it then expanded, with standard police officers, then men in suits, and a riot team and then a SWAT team.
'They had ladders up, cable ties going on the roof, it was just insane.'
Chief Superintendent Jason Rees said: 'This is a deeply distressing incident, and our thoughts are with the victim's family, and everyone affected.
'We thank the local community for their support, which has resulted in an arrest with no further injuries sustained.
'We thank those displaced from their homes overnight for their co-operation at a worrying time as we support them in returning home.
'We thank the local community for their co-operation as our investigation continues.'
Police appealed for anyone with information or footage on the incident to contact the force.